Of darker thoughts

Terridus and Winters left the cell with Steven in it with Terridus slamming the door loudly. Doroshea didn't budge from his position and regarded Terridus with little more than a raised eyebrow. Terridus stood statue still with the exception of his right hand which shook with rage. Terridus stormed off from his cousins and started to move through the hallways of the lower castle. He knew them like the back of his hand at this point, having had a hand with the design and construction of the castle. As he moved though the castle his thoughts raced some as he tried to regain his composure. The one thing he could not figure out about his encounter with Steven was how Steven could have seen this going any other way.

Could he have really been that blind to the ire he had drawn from the family?

Did he really think he was going to talk Elmdore into anything?

Is he really so detached that he sees himself as the only person that could save amber? Was he the only person who could save amber?

Terridus stopped and planted his fist into a near by wall, cracking the stone slightly. He stood there for a moment, fist against the wall and then thought more about the situation. His brain desperately rationalize his thought and he found himself drawing strange comparisons to Steven. Steven and Renee should be where him and Elmdore were. The throne was never for Renee's taking, but always for her to inherent. Steven would have made a fine crowded prince before the rebellion. Terridus shifted some and leaned against the wall some.

When Steven was admiral of the navy, and Renee was crowned prince, Terridus had felt so safe in the golden circle. He never worried about the courts of chaos attacking or anything like that. All the shadows were so full of boats, so much trade happening and things worked together so well. Those day were so comforting, and now they were gone. If someone had told Terridus 100 years ago that he would be crowd prince under his father's rein, he would have had considered the person telling him to be crazy. Terridus wasn't fit to rule, and neither was his father.

He thought back to the speech his father had given at the feasts start and thought about what he had said. Talking about how he didn't care about people's happiness and how toil will define their place in this kingdom. Terridus was terrified of his father, always had been. He didn't want his father to be king. He wanted desperately to help Renee and put the rightful heir onto the throne. Steven was convinced he couldn't save her, but he was going to prove him wrong.

Terridus pounded on the wall again. Steven would pay in time for the damage he's done to this kingdom and Terridus would never let him be crown prince again. He had no right. That was of course if Terridus didn't just out right call for his head. The worry of blood curse surfaced again and Terridus momentarily wondered just who Steven would curse. Terridus wasn't afraid of going out that way but also thought of what if Steven really did care about the family, would he blood curse someone outside the family. It would certainly prove his value to the family...

Terridus was pulled from his thoughts, hearing heated conversation upstairs. Corwin had arrived and it didn't sound good. Just his luck after all.

If someone had told Terridus 100 years ago he'd be sitting on the throne of Amber, he would have laughed. If someone had told Terridus 50 years ago that his father would be so ok with turning the title over to Renee, he would have argued with them.If someone had told Terridus anything about the eagle ever, maybe he would be able to help...